Barbara Walters Hospitalized After Fall; Suffers Cut On Forehead

January 20, 2013 7:53 AM PST

Veteran ABC newswoman Barbara Walters has fallen at an inauguration party in Washington and has been hospitalized.

ABC News spokesman Jeffrey Schneider says the 83-year-old Walters fell Saturday night on a step at the residence of Britain’s ambassador to the United States, Peter Westmacott. The fall left Walters with a cut on her forehead.

Schneider said Sunday “out of an abundance of caution” Walters went to a hospital for treatment of the cut and for a full examination. He says Walters is alert “and telling everyone what to do,” which is “a very positive sign.”

It’s unclear when Walters might be released from the hospital, which ABC hasn’t identified.

Walters was TV news’ first female superstar, making headlines in 1976 as a network anchor with an unprecedented $1 million annual salary.